Relax

Hope you all are enjoying a relaxing weekend. He sure is.

Best,

Kwana

It's a McWonder

Happy Friday everyone. I hope you all have a nice weekend planned. Lately it seems for me the weekends are just blending with the week and it all feels the same. Work, work and more work just on a different day. I need a McVacation to sort things out.

My mind is cluttered with strange things that it probably should not be, but, well, it is. And here is one of them that's a bit old but still stuck with me especially since I'm off the sugar and white products for Lent. Honestly at this point I'd give my pinky toe for a decent diner grilled cheese with bacon on good old white bread with a big side of fries. Oh be still my heart.

Stop, Kwana, that's not the story. Breath. This is the story. Did you hear about the woman who called 911 because McDonald's didn't have her McNuggets and wouldn't refund her money?



Well, a woman goes into McDonald's orders a 10 piece nuggets they take her money and then tell her they are out of the nuggets and she can have something else. She asks for her money back and they refuse to give it saying all sales are final. What's with that? That sounds like robbery to me.

Now you know when you've got your mind set on something in particular you want that thing. Nothing else will do. Like, I want a grilled cheese on White bread with bacon right now. Not on whole grain with fat free cheese. And if you get me on the wrong day I may have to call 911 on you if you don't give me my money back.



It turns out the woman was given a summons for abusing the 911 system for calling 3 times. She says she called back to get the address correct. I say the restaurant was at fault for not refunding her money. Worse for taking it in the first place and giving her false Nugget hope.

Turns out McDonald's has sent her a bunch of coupons and are now offering a refund. I say they owe her a lot more than that. You don't go messing with a lady when she's got food on her mind.

Best,
Kwana

CRASH INTO ME- Why Don't Cha?

What's Jack Up to? You know Jack, being as silly as ever. Last night he starts barking his head off, just about waking up the whole neighborhood. I was watching Make Me A Super Model with Tyson Beckford and "Ding-Dong" the doorbell rings on the TV. Jack just loses his mind at that sound thinking it's our door late at night. We could not convince him it wasn't for about 10 minutes. Thanks Tyson. BTW I'm really enjoying that show this season. Anyone else?


A while back I was over at Carolyn Jean's blog A Trillionth Page, you can check it out here ,and was lucky enough to win a copy of Jill Sorenson's Super Sexy thriller CRASH INTO ME. Love a lucky blog day!



About a week later I got a lovely signed copy from Jill. Yay! Jill does a wonderful job writing strong, but very sexy characters while still making them vulnerable. You are instantly engaged with her flawed characters and kept on the edge of your seat with both the suspenseful thriller and the sexy romance. I'm talking Hot!

Here's the blurb from Publishers Weekly:

From Publishers Weekly: Sorenson (Dangerous to Touch) sends tough, emotionally withdrawn FBI agent Sonora Sonny Vasquez to a small California town to investigate a series of murders in this high-tension romantic thriller. The prime suspect is famed pro surfer Ben Fortune, who lives with his emotionally damaged teenage daughter, Carly. When Sonny saves Carly from a possible suicide attempt, she meets Ben, and sparks ignite. As Sonny struggles to keep her distance, other suspects emerge: Carly's troubled friend James, his monstrous father and his strange older brother. The tension revs as more corpses and clues seem to point back to Ben, culminating in a page-turning climax as the killer is finally unmasked. Despite the mystery, the real energy comes from the emotional relationships full of explosive sex and terrible secrets.



Thanks so much Jill and CJ!

You can learn more about Jill Sorenson and her exciting new works at her website here.

BTW? Have you read any good thrillers lately? Do you read thrillers?

Best,
Kwana

Spring Forward- New Knits

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Knit Wednesday post. Mainly, because I’m embarrassed to be so far behind in my knitting. I’m still on that darn second sock. Every once in a while knitting a row here and there and when it’s our Wednesday knitting group but mostly doing more therapeutic chatting than knitting.

I also have a bulky black turtleneck that I fear may be done by the winter of 2020 at the rate I’m going but at this point my mind is now onto lighter prettier things like this:

The pattern is called Spring Forward.



Isn’t it sweet? From here and unfortunately way out of my league. I’d probably have to start with taking a class in lace knitting before a could graduate up to a circular sock in such a pattern but isn’t it nice to dream?


New thing to add to my goal list: Take a class in lace knitting.

Tell me, what’s something new you’d like to learn?

Best,
Kwana



P.S.



How funny are the Not So Real Housewives of the NYC? Thisssss funny. That dis-Countess and Ramona had me laughing so hard last night. I sure needed that at 10PM. And Alex and Simon in their sad blow up pool. I cracked up but it gave me something to like about them. I should get one for the DH and I. We'll be living the high life too.

Savannah Buzzing in My Ear

What's Jack up to? Oh, being Just Jack! You know how that goes.

When I was a kid, of all of about 8, my mom and step dad had a bar/disco on 125th street in the heart of Harlem. It was quite the spot for it's time.

Well, one of my favorite things to do was go by in the afternoons, serve myself an icy Pepsi with two perfect cherries on top then beg my mother for quarters from the register for the Juke Box. She knew what was coming next. Everyone knew. It was time for Dr. Buzzard's Original Savannah band!

Oh, how I loved these songs! I drove the bar crazy with them. I can still see the eyes rolling now.

Hmm... I wonder if it had anything to do with me eventually marrying a man from Savannah. Hey, you never know how these thoughts get implanted.


This weekend while looking for a song I had heard and was liking a lot, I ran across them again in iTunes. I figured out that the reason I loved the song was because Cory Daye had sung it with The Band back when I was a kid. So it was already deeply implanted on my heart, somewhere on the 'B' side. I had just forgotten about it. Funny how those things happen huh?

And don't you just love Cory's style and attitude. So much cooler than some of the polished girls of today don't you think?







What is some of the music you loved as a kid? Do you think it had any influence on who you became as an adult?

Best,
Kwana

Perspective

What's Jack up to? The wild one is resting up today after a busy Jack type weekend. I'm happy to say he's a shaggy dog no more after getting a long overdo hair cut. He had a lot more pep in his step after his grooming and let everyone know how fine he thought he looked. He's so vain.

Hello Monday! I hope everyone had a lovely weekend.

We’ve had some slightly warmer weather this weekend that finally melted all the snow and left me with this sad view out my kitchen window.

Sigh, just looking at it makes me tired thinking of all the work it will take to make it look like something pretty this spring.

But wait, what’s that over there in the corner down by all those hard rocks?

Looks like all the work is not up to me at all. Don’t you just love it when things are put in perspective?

Perspective : the interrelation in which a subject or its parts are mentally viewed ; also : point of view b: the capacity to view things in their true relations or relative importance

Strength-the quality or state of being strong : capacity for exertion or endurance

Best,

Kwana

Spring Forward

What's Jack up to? The wild one is looking forward to a fun Jack type weekend of play, mischief and more play. You know how he does. Life is so hard for Jack.

Tonight is the night to Spring Forward and set our clocks ahead 1 hour. Sure, we'll lose a very precious hour of sleep and be hot messes for a few days. But the longer days ahead a are sure sign of warmer weather. Rain showers and beautiful buds to come. Embrace it. Spring Forward!

Best,

Kwana

Inspiration

Fabulous Friday!

I'm thinking fabulous today thanks to my blog friend, Simply Seleta and her Fab Friday post ideas. So I thought I'd write about something I found fabulous.

Today Inspiration is on my mind. Isn't Inspiration Fabulous? I'm feeling inspired. Something I hope sticks with me and actually turns into work being produced. Which doesn't always happen through no fault of the lovely muse mind you only the bad critic which I know I should never listen too.

Where do you find inspiration? I was inspired the other day by the beautiful voice of Jazmin Sullivan.

Sometimes it's a image.

Or a look or a feeling?

Or a design

Maybe a Fab Blog. There are plenty over to the right there.

What are some things that inspire you?

Best,
Kwana

photos thanks to flickr and elle decor

Top Chef Watch What Happens- Spoiler alert ahead

So I just watched the watched what happens special this morning because I was all thrown off with my times last night and watched Top Model. I have to say. This is the way to watch Top Chef!

Well Bravo did a nice job trying to sell us on the magical trickery of Hosea. Um, I didn’t fall for it, but nice try.



Love the Team Europe Bromance clip. Now I want an I heart Fabio tee- shirt.

Oh and then the tension of the Hosea and Leah romance. And Hosea tries to blame it on the Alcohol. Just like the Jamie Foxx song. Way to man up, Hosea.

Now On to lighter things. Who knew about all the craziness going on in the Not So Glad room? I guess they found a way to make it pretty glad. Beds, volleyball net, booze.
The Stefan clip just cracked me up. Laugh out loud funny.
The homage to Tom and all the bald men. Loved it too.

Now the Fan favorite is… Fabio. Ok I’m fine with it, I guess. If my Carla couldn’t win then I’m glad it’s Fabio. He was the funniest. Can’t wait for the Fabio show!

I sure hope Carla gets a show sometime. I’m not ready to let her go yet. We can all practice a little of The Carla Way in our lives. That should be the name of her show. Are you listening Bravo producers?

I'm going to miss Top Chef.

Love this wild show.

Scroll down for fun Jack pics in his cool new booties!

Best,
Kwana

Snow Dog!

What’s Jack up to? Jack has been quite busy lately and keeping me very busy too. Yesterday, don’t ask me why, but he went into the bathtub to take the soap out of the soap dish to chew on it under my bed. Good thing I noticed it early. Ewww... Bad Dog.


But despite being the baddest dog in town, Jack is the luckiest. This weekend Jack got a very special present all the way from Alaska! His buddies, Jeter, Ginger and Toby with the help if their most wonderful owner, Ina of Ina J. Offret sent Jack snow booties! The kind I had been admiring on them from their treks in the snow. See the cuties here.

And check Jack out in the booties!

We had a late season storm just so Jack could try them out. He was so excited about them that he kept kicking one off so I took them all off, afraid he’d lose them in the snow. We’ll try another day.

Thanks so much Ina and the gang. I love my blog buddies.

Oh and I got the coolest slipper socks and as a bonus Jack got Alaskan Salmon treats. I wonder what if they make special New York treats. Perhaps hot dog flavored?

Best,
Kwana

P.S.

America's Next Top Model Started last night. Did you watch? I did. Let the fierce hot mess begin. I hope this season is better than the last. If not, it won't hold me.

Hello Lover- What's your name?

What's Jack up to? Jack been hard at work thinking of new ways that he can steal food off folks plates when they are not looking. He sits around innocently enough, pretending to be so uninterested in you or your food. But don't turn your head for one moment because he will pounce. Watch out. It's Jack!


I know I'm so fickle you'd think my name was Jason. Sorry, I had to make that bad joke. But, here's a little bag love for a chilly Wednesday in anticipation of spring. The New Jackie Bag from Gucci. It's delicious. It looks like a perfect bag for a city day. I just love a good hobo.

This has me longing to stroll down 5 avenue and spend some time at the Met

Or perhaps go uptown and take in the unicorn Tapestries at The Cloisters

then go through the gardens.

No, this baby, is all about downtown and the galleries. Walk in and out.

Look but don't touch please.

Because the artwork in already on your arm.

Best, Kwana


Photos thanks to Gucci and flickr

The fix Is In

If you don't want to be disillusioned then don't go here for the scoop on The Bachelor. Thanks to Maria and Elizabeth for the link. I tell ya, I know shifty when I see shifty. Poor Nana is drained today after dealing with Jason.



Scroll down for more thoughts.

best,
Kwana

Crocodile Tears

Or how many times can a grown man cry during a 3 hour period? Answer: way too many.

Jason, Jason, Jason. What was up with that hot mess of a put off and proposal then the After the Rose on The Bachelor? I will admit I only half watched in honor of Nana’s birthday. I was flipping back and forth between Jason and Jack Bauer on 24. There were no crocodile tears from Jack.

Jason did not fail to disappoint me by being the guy I suspected he was from the beginning. Quite shifty. I think it’s so not fair how the show did not let Molly see how Jason broke up with Melissa. Why not give her the full picture before she makes a decision? What a big set-up this whole un-reality thing was. And they are doing a part 2?

Well, I’ll be braving the elements to get things done that didn’t get done yesterday due to the snow day. It’s back to the bitter cold here in the northeast so I’m bundling up. Looks like it will be a while before the snow melts.

What on tap for your day?

Best,
Kwana

P.S. Crazy woman update: I'm still hanging in there with the no sugar thing or white products. Although I did cave and have a small piece of Nana's birthday cake. I was pretty strong at her dinner. She was not happy with me when I turned down her macaroni and cheese and the seafood salad and the sweet potato pie. I could go on and on... I feel like a warrior.

Happy Birthday Nana!

What's Jack up to? It's a big time snow day here in New York. So Jack and I will have extra company with us. He's been bouncing around all weekend and is sure not not stop anytime soon.

Today is my Dear Nana's Birthday! Please join me in wishing this phenomenal woman in my life all the best. Nana is the rock in our family, always there to lend an ear or a hand. She even can keep Jack under control and can tame a teen twin with just a glance. Just like her birth month of March, Nana comes in like a lion but she's really as sweet as a lamb. We love you Nana!

"Touched by An Angel"

By Maya Angelou


We, unaccustomed to courage

exiles from delight

live coiled in shells of loneliness

until love leaves its high holy temple

and comes into our sight

to liberate us into life.
Love arrives

and in its train come ecstasies

old memories of pleasure

ancient histories of pain.

Yet if we are bold,

love strikes away the chains of fear

from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity

In the flush of love's light

we dare be brave

And suddenly we see

that love costs all we are

and will ever be.

Yet it is only love

which sets us free.

Best,

Kwana